A five-year review of referrals for prosthetic treatment in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, 1981-85.

Patients undergoing amputation and who are considered to be suitable for an artificial leg are referred to the Disablement Services Centres (formerly called the Artificial Limb and Appliance Centres). This article reviews the referrals to the 23 centres in England, Wales and Northern Ireland over the five-year period 1981-85. The results show that there has been a decrease in the number of both upper and lower limb referrals and a 4% increase in the primary cause of amputation, arteriosclerosis. Centres that are the busiest, those seeing the greatest and fewest number of arteriosclerosis and diabetic referrals and those being referred the largest numbers of above, below and knee level amputations are identified.